Asian American Career Fair at Madison College
Presenter -- Workshop Ady Xiong Business & Trades/Apprenticeship Dinh Le Business & Trades/Apprenticeship Joshua Her Business & Trades/Apprenticeship Raghav Sriastava Business & Trades/Apprenticeship Sonny S. Vong Business & Trades/Apprenticeship Linda Aroonsavath College Pathway 1 Karen Paschke College Pathway 2 Mary Yang College Pathway 3 Thuha Dang College Pathway 4 Dr. Philip Yang Education Kou Her Education Chia Yang Health Dao Herr Health and Human Services Heidi Pascual Information Technology (IT) & Communications/Media Quang Duong Information Technology (IT) & Communications/Media Veronica Delcourt Keynote Speaker Anh Sweeney Protective Services & Law/Government Bernadette Galvez Protective Services & Law/Government Chark Vang Protective Services & Law/Government Marine Yoo Protective Services & Law/Government Rose Douglas Protective Services & Law/Government Chanthou Vong Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Nilhan Gunasekera Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Pao Lo Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Thomas Tubon Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) |
By Heidi M. Pascual
On April 15th 2011, Madison College (MATC Truax campus) held its
second Asian American Career Fair -- a great opportunity for Asian
American high school students in the Madison area to explore
career paths through actual exposure to Asian American
professionals and entrepreneurs. It was also the second time for
me to be part of this wonderful undertaking.
For half a day, the participating students attended sessions or
presentations conducted by local Asian Americans who are actively
practicing their professions in the fields of Business &
Trades/Apprenticeship, Education, Health, Information Technology &
Media/Communications, Protective Services & Law/Government,
and Science-Technology-Engineering-Math (STEM). There were
also information booths from various colleges and universities with
staff who answered students' inquiries.
I salute the Madison College staff and Asian American community
leaders such as Dr. Elizabeth Reyes (Ph.d.) who are behind the
project. They wanted to make sure that just like the other ethnic
groups in the Madison area who have their annual career fairs in
Madison College, Asian American high school students about to
graduate are also given the same opportunity. There's a lot of
information these students gathered from the event and a lot of
friendships forged in the process.
On April 15th 2011, Madison College (MATC Truax campus) held its
second Asian American Career Fair -- a great opportunity for Asian
American high school students in the Madison area to explore
career paths through actual exposure to Asian American
professionals and entrepreneurs. It was also the second time for
me to be part of this wonderful undertaking.
For half a day, the participating students attended sessions or
presentations conducted by local Asian Americans who are actively
practicing their professions in the fields of Business &
Trades/Apprenticeship, Education, Health, Information Technology &
Media/Communications, Protective Services & Law/Government,
and Science-Technology-Engineering-Math (STEM). There were
also information booths from various colleges and universities with
staff who answered students' inquiries.
I salute the Madison College staff and Asian American community
leaders such as Dr. Elizabeth Reyes (Ph.d.) who are behind the
project. They wanted to make sure that just like the other ethnic
groups in the Madison area who have their annual career fairs in
Madison College, Asian American high school students about to
graduate are also given the same opportunity. There's a lot of
information these students gathered from the event and a lot of
friendships forged in the process.
(Above) Some of the people
behind the idea of an Asian
American Career Fair at
Madison College; (Left)
Quang Duong inspires
students to take up
Information Technology.
behind the idea of an Asian
American Career Fair at
Madison College; (Left)
Quang Duong inspires
students to take up
Information Technology.
Being one of the presenters, I didn't get the chance to cover the other presentations, but I have an
idea of what transpired in each session because of my experience. In my 'classroom," for instance,
there were two of us presenters who completed each of our slot for 30 minutes. There was a
facilitator who introduced us, and after our presentation, the students asked us a lot of questions.
idea of what transpired in each session because of my experience. In my 'classroom," for instance,
there were two of us presenters who completed each of our slot for 30 minutes. There was a
facilitator who introduced us, and after our presentation, the students asked us a lot of questions.
My topic was information Technology/Communications, and my co-presenter was Quang Duong, a young Vietnamese American who
works for Madison College's IT department. Duong talked about himself and why he decided to take up IT, the basics of computer
learning, and he inspired the students to learn the technology and be efficient about it.
Of course, I talked about myself, my education, my work experience, and why I moved to Madison and focused on a journalism career. I
told them that the reason I started my own magazine was the fact that while other ethnic groups have their very own publications in
Madison, Asian Americans don't have theirs, and I saw that as something necessary to let people know that Asian Americans exist,
live, and work in Wisconsin. That i wanted to tell our stories, the stories of parents who are refugees, the stories of Asian American
struggles, pain and successes, our issues and those of others like us.
I highlighted my struggle early on when I started my magazine, Asian Wisconzine, and how I studied on my own to do my website.
While I tackled the difficulty of keeping a small business during the recession, I focused on how I am keeping it alive -- that while it is
no longer printing, it's online version is very much alive and well. I showed them my website and the articles and videos featured in it. I
made it a point to tell them that Asian Americans need to be actively involved in local issues, such as the ongoing State budget battle
that stirred people to march on the streets to the State Capitol. I told them that while it is very important to focus on their studies and be
successful in choosing their professions, it is equally important to forge coalitions with other ethnic groups and be a stronger minority
force.
The questions raised after my presentation were good indications that the students were touched by my talk. My co-presenter even
acknowledged how good I was in my presentation. But I said I'm quite used to doing it and he'll get the hang of it as he does it more
often. The more important thing, I added, is for him to be passionate about what he does and why he wants students to learn from him.
works for Madison College's IT department. Duong talked about himself and why he decided to take up IT, the basics of computer
learning, and he inspired the students to learn the technology and be efficient about it.
Of course, I talked about myself, my education, my work experience, and why I moved to Madison and focused on a journalism career. I
told them that the reason I started my own magazine was the fact that while other ethnic groups have their very own publications in
Madison, Asian Americans don't have theirs, and I saw that as something necessary to let people know that Asian Americans exist,
live, and work in Wisconsin. That i wanted to tell our stories, the stories of parents who are refugees, the stories of Asian American
struggles, pain and successes, our issues and those of others like us.
I highlighted my struggle early on when I started my magazine, Asian Wisconzine, and how I studied on my own to do my website.
While I tackled the difficulty of keeping a small business during the recession, I focused on how I am keeping it alive -- that while it is
no longer printing, it's online version is very much alive and well. I showed them my website and the articles and videos featured in it. I
made it a point to tell them that Asian Americans need to be actively involved in local issues, such as the ongoing State budget battle
that stirred people to march on the streets to the State Capitol. I told them that while it is very important to focus on their studies and be
successful in choosing their professions, it is equally important to forge coalitions with other ethnic groups and be a stronger minority
force.
The questions raised after my presentation were good indications that the students were touched by my talk. My co-presenter even
acknowledged how good I was in my presentation. But I said I'm quite used to doing it and he'll get the hang of it as he does it more
often. The more important thing, I added, is for him to be passionate about what he does and why he wants students to learn from him.
Over all, it was a another great experience for me. I met new students and other presenters and
connected beautifully with my friends and colleagues at Madison College (MATC). The program that
followed the sessions was a showcase of student talent in dance.
I know that the high school students who participated during this event went home with lots of
information and inspiration that they would carry with them when they continue their college education.
connected beautifully with my friends and colleagues at Madison College (MATC). The program that
followed the sessions was a showcase of student talent in dance.
I know that the high school students who participated during this event went home with lots of
information and inspiration that they would carry with them when they continue their college education.